Delaware float 8/9/14

[njstew2]

Did a float with my favorite fishing buddies, my son, and 5 of his friends. Started in Milford, ended in Dingmans Ferry. We wound up with about 40 SM, 2 walleyes, and some sort of river chub, not sure what it was. gold in color and about 16 inches long. Got a first hand look at the benifits of whacky rigged senkos...wow the SM crushed them. The problem is they hit it so aggressivly that we had a few gut hooks that requird surgury to remove...all sucessfull.

[AndyS]

Great stuff !! I bet the flows were perfect, nice clear water and good weather !!

[njstew2]

Thanks Andy. I could not have hand picked better conditions

[Eskimo]

...some sort of river chub, not sure what it was. gold in color and about 16 inches long. Got a first hand look at the benifits of whacky rigged senkos...wow the SM crushed them. The problem is they hit it so aggressivly that we had a few gut hooks that requird surgury to remove...all sucessfull.


Looks like you did great this weekend, especially considering how low and clear the river was this weekend. Not to mention the tremendous number of people using the river.

The mystery fish you caught may have been a Redhorse Sucker. They are big, gold, minnows. Did it look like the pictures posted below:

I think all bass anglers know the grief of deep-hooking a bass. In fact, just this weekend, I caught a small largemouth bass that managed to get the hook all the way to that sphincter-looking thing at the back of their mouth. As soon as I removed the hook, the bass started bleeding profusely. There must be some kind of major blood vessel there behind their tongue.
The bass swam away okay, but I felt sick with remorse knowing that he probably wasn't going to live. :(


http://www2.dnr.cornell.edu/cek7/nyfish/Catostomidae/greater_redhorse.jpg
http://www.roughfish.com/sites/default/files/shorthead_redhorse_closeup.jpg
http://www.roughfish.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/shorthead_redhorse2.jpg
http://www.roughfish.com/sites/default/files/shorthead_redhorse_revised_range_map.jpg

[Skunk City]

Looks like a great time man! I also was on the river from friday night through sunday afternoon. We launched at Milford Beach and finished at Smithfield Beach. We landed Smallies but no Walleye. What did the 'eyes hit?

[FASTEDDIE29]

Looks and sounds like a phenom trip man. This is a great time of year for NJ's big rivers. Gotta love the BIG D! Thanx for the report dude!!!:D

[njstew2]

Eskimo you nailed it. I never saw one of those before. Always feel bad when they are gut hooked, always do what I can to release as unharmed as possible.
Skunk City, we caught 1 eye on a run of the mill nightcrawler in some swift water, the other was wacky wormed in a hole between riffs.
Fast Eddie it was an awesome trip, just happy the boy and his friends still want to include me in the fun. I've been fishing with all of them for a long time, and instill in them that we are all stewards of the sport and the waters.
I think you have a great community here an I glad to be a small part of it. Hopefully I'll get to wet lines with you guys some day.

[ScowardNJ]

You sure your mystery fish wasn't a fallfish? The D is loaded with em.

[njstew2]

ScowardNJ I looked up fall fish and that was not it. The rednose sucker it the most likely suspect. Never saw one of those in person either.